Sterilizing-cabinet.



M. E. GIBSON.

STERILIZING CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1914.

'1 I 9mm 1 I Patented July 11, 1916.

MARION E. GIBSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

STEBILIZING-CABIN'ET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed October 28, 1914. Serial No. 869,049.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, MARION E. GmsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Sterilizing-Gabinet, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in sterilizing cabinets.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cabinet which may be used by doctors, dentists, etc., for the purpose of sterilizing instruments, bandages, and similar materials.

A. further object is to provide a cabinet with a plurality of compartments so arranged that the materials inserted within the compartments may be subjected to a dry heat, steam, or a germicidal and disinfecting gas, or any combinations thereof.

Another object is to accomplish the aforementioned ends in a simple and efficacious manner and to so arrange the apparatus as to be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and capable of utilizing steam.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of my improved sterilizing cabinet with portions thereof broken away to more clearly disclose the arrangement and disposition of parts. Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmental view in section, illustrating the two upper compartments and the glass shelving which is slidably disposed in the lower one. Fig. 4: is a detail view in section of the floor locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a cabinet or casing 4 is formed of some suitable material such that it will be air tight, with stand the corrosive action of germicidal gases, and will possess a sanitary and neat appearance.

The cabinet is provided with the transversely extending partitions 5 and 6 which divide the cabinet into the upper compartment C the central compartment C and the lower compartment C It is to be noted that the number of sizes of the compartments may be varied, according to the class of service the sterilizing cabinet is to perform. The upper compartment C is vided with a door 7 and latch 8 so that it may be held in a tight condition and hermetically sealed. The compartment C is provided with a similar door 9 and latch 10 for similar purposes.

The lower compartment C has What is termed a boiler 13 disposed therein and which includes the two spaced shells 11 and 12. The front Wall has a door 13 hingedly se cured by the arms 14. The door is provided with a concentric rim 15 through which the slots 16 extend. A holding band 17 is secured toand extends around the upper surface of the rim as illustrated in Fig. 2. Pivotally and rotatably secured to the door is the hand wheel and shaft 18 to which is secured the plate or spider 19. A plurality of resilient arms 20 are carried by the plate 19 and project through the slots 16 in the rim and are adapted to engage beneath an overhanging rim 21 with which the front Wall of the compartment is provided. Thus when the hand wheel is rotated in one direction, the curved and flexible arms 20 Will be moved inwardly tending to straighten and will be extended beneath and rigidly grip the overhanging rim 21, thus securely locking the door in a closed and hermetically sealed condition.

It will therefore be noted that the cabinet or casing has a circular opening leading to the boiler, and that the door 13 is seatable against the outer side of the casing within the annular overhanging rim 21 with which the outer side of the casing is provided around said opening. The spider 19 is disposed upon the outer side of the door, and said door has guides, as above indicated, for the arms of the spider adjacent the margin of the door, the terminals of the spider arms being projected behind said rim by the screw 18 which is engaged with the door and hub of the spider.

The space defined between the inner and outer shells of the boiler is adapted to re-- ceive steam or other heating medium therein which is supplied thereto by the pipe 23 for whose control the valve 24 is arranged. An outlet pipe 25 communicates with the steam receiving receptacle 22 and is provided with the usual and conventional type of thermal vacuum valve 26. The boiler is thus arranged to receive steam either in a normal or superheated condition Which will result in the heating of the boiler tothe desired temperature and impart heat tothe adjacent parts of the cabinet. In

. order that the interior of the shell 11 may receive the live steam therein so that articles within the same may be subjected to the moist heat of steam, thepipe 23 is provided and is controlled bythe valve 24. The pipe in question extends between and communicates with the steam receiving receptacle 22 and the interior of the shell 11.

- Arranged directly above the boiler B and Within the compartment C is the gas generator 29 which is in the form of a receptacle, communicating with which is the pipe 30. The pipe 30 extends through the front wall of the cabinet and is closed by a cap 31, thus providing for the introduction of a liquid or other material whose heating will result in the production of a germicidal or disinfectant vapor or gas. Communicating with the gas generator 29 is the outlet pipe 32 which communicates with a distributing coupling 33 so that the gas is directed to the boiler B or upper compartment. Communicating with the outlet pipe 32 are the supply pipes 34 and 35 leading to the upper compartment and each of which is independently controlled by the valves 36, thus providing for the independent introduction of germicidal and disinfecting gases or vapors wlthln-the said compartments. A pipe 38 commun cates with the gas line and is provided with the controlling valve 37 by means of which the interior of the shell 11 is supplied with any desired quantity of gas or is shut off from the supply.

The compartment C is provided with a number of angle brackets 39 for the support of the detachable glass shelving 40. The shelving is disposed within the compartment as a matter of convenience and to increase the capacity ofthe compartment for the retaining of surgical instruments and other articles which it is desired to expose to the germicidal gases and dry heat. The boiler is adapted to heat the various compartments and thus expose the articles disposed therein to a dry heat. Thus the cabinet may be used to advantage in barber shops for the heating of towels as well as the sterilization of the various implements. The gas generator is positioned directly above and thus utilizes the heat of the boiler for Copies ,of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

ing to the pressure of the steam which cir-v culates therein. A pressure gage 41 indicates the pressure within the steam receiving receptacle and therefore indirectly indicates the thermal condition of the boiler. The pipe 26 allows the live and moist steam to be inserted directly within the inner shell and thus in actual contact with such articles as may be placed therein. This allows for the heating of what is known as wet towels used in barber shops and for similar purposes. The means whereby the door 13 is held closed, allows a certain amount of pressure to be retained within the interior of the shell 11 without forcing the door outward or resulting in the escapement of steam therethrough. The boiler may also be provided with thedisinfecting gases in addition to the steam as will be readily apparent.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim to be new and original with me and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the character described, a casing having a circular opening and an annular overhanging rim surrounding said opening upon the outer side of the casing, a circular door adapted to rest against the outer side of the casing within said rim to close said opening, a resilient dished spider upon the outer side of the door, the door having guides for the arms of the spider adjacent the margin of the door, the terminals of the spider arms being projectable beyond the margin of the door to engage behind said rim, and a screw engaged with the door and hub of the spider whereby said screw can be rotated for forcing said hub toward the door, thereby tending to moi e the spider arms into a common plane, to project said arms behind said rim, the spider when released bending away from the door.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARION E. GIBSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. LANE, PERLEY C. HEALD.

Commissioner of Patents, 

